Boulder City, Nevada, USA

Saguaro cactuses are associated with the Sonora Desert and Arizona, but this one is in southern Nevada, at the northern-most extent of its range. Can you tell it was planted here to add a sense of place to the barrenness that envelops Lake Meade? See the water? [2022]

Oscar, Louisiana, USA

River or lake? False River was a meander of the Mississippi River until the 1700s; then, flooding cut it off, and it became an oxbow lake. Now, it is a cottage-crowded, duck-hunting, trout-fishing paradise. Note the French long-lots visible on the false-color image below. Those long-lots testify to False River's Acadian heritage. [2022]

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

The Boston Public Garden is part of the Emerald Necklace of open space that curves around Boston's historic core. It was the city's second park, created by in-filling Back Bay, which had become a cesspool of trash and sewage. In the 1870s, Boston hired Frederick Law Olmstead to design a complete park system into which existing parks would be integrated. [2021]

Pierre, South Dakota, USA

Forty-eight of our 50 states were born as singletons. Two were born as twins: South Dakota and North Dakota. They were admitted to the Union on the same day: November 2, 1889, which makes them 132 years old today. Yet, to highlight their different personalities, one gave their capital city a French name, and the other chose a name from Germany. [2021]

Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, USA

Of the ten smallest states, Maryland packs the most topographic variety into its political shell (sorry, Massachusetts). What unites that variety is the value of water: Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay, Potomac River, and Deep Creek Lake. Maryland's largest lake should be proud to be included in a list like that! [2021]

Växjö, Sweden

When the international border between Sweden and Denmark was here, Kronoberg Castle was necessary for Sweden to guard its frontier. Lots of resources went into fortification, expansion, and upkeep. When the international border was moved to the Øresund, Växjö lost its strategic significance and the castle declined. Today, only ruins remain. [1984]

THE BACKSTORY ~ Posted on the 11^th Anniversary of Geographically Yours, 4 August 2021: From my travel log on the two days a friend and I spent in Växjö, Sweden, in the summer of 1984. “We headed inland and got off at Alvesta, then caught another train to Växjö. In Växjö we stopped at an outdoor museum (closed), saw a windmill, and a few folk barns, stopped to see the cathedral, and fortunately bought a few things for supper at the grocery store. Växjö was dead though. It was Saturday afternoon and almost everything was closed.”

The next day we rented an Opal Corsa for a single day and drove out into the countryside from which so many Swedish immigrants to the United States had come. My friend was a descendent of one of those immigrant families. “We  drove back to Växjö, after eating in the car, on a very rural road that wound its way through the woods and among the lakes of Kronoberg. It rained the whole day and prevented a lot of picture taking. In Växjö we rushed to the Emigrant House Museum, which is undergoing considerable expansion. It was located next to the Smaland Museum where they have some buildings moved in from around Sweden. Nobody in the museum knew anything about the outbuildings and didn’t have anything in writing about them either. The Emigrant House Museum was very nice. It had both English and Swedish descriptions which made it more meaningful for us."

“One more stop we made before returning to the hostel. We went to see the ruins of Kronoburg castle, the best castle we have yet seen. It is situated on a point of land which juts into Helgasjön Lake. The ruins were restored with a few bricks to support the arches and a few new stairways made of wood.  The castle is open to the weather, however. The only contrived aspect was the wooden stage and simple benches which were set up in the central courtyard and some passageways that were blocked off. We had the whole castle to ourselves. The castle is on the site  of a medieval bishop’s castles (Bishop of Växjö). The present castle was built in Gustavus Vasa’s time and was added to in the 1550s.” The next morning, we boarded the train to Stockholm. D.J.Z.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The city is Toronto. What's the name of the lake? Superior or Huron or Michigan or Erie or Ontario? Deep, large lakes are rare around the world. When they do occur, it is always in the plural, and they are always in the middle of great (as in the three largest) continents: North America, Africa, Asia. Why? [2010]

Stone Mountain, Georgia, USA

♫ These Are a Few of My Favorite Things ♫ ~ Mills: Powered by running water, grist mills sustained generations of settlers on the Georgia piedmont. As a reminder, an old wooden mill was relocated to Atlanta's Stone Mountain Park in 1965. Water wheels, windmills and tidal mills (wish I could find one to photograph) all teach us the virtues of sustainability. [2020]

Nidzica, Poland

Nidzica is one of hundreds of castles that still dot the Polish landscape. Don't we all wish we lived in a castle right now? Self-sufficient and cut off from the outside world. Just like it was in the 14th century when this castle was built. Or, maybe not. [2004]

Reston, Virginia, USA

Lake Anne, a community built around a village center, was the first neighborhood developed in the new town of Reston. Today, we take mixed-use zoning for granted, but in the 1960s single-use zoning was at its height, and Reston offered an alternative to the isolated and under-served dormitories that took over after World War II. [2016]

Lake Anne Center in 1970

Prescott, Arizona, USA

You may recognize Watson Lake as a reservoir rather than a natural lake, but do you recognize its surroundings as an exposed pluton? Watson Lake is merely a flooded portion of the Granite Dells. Fishing and hiking are encouraged, but no swimming! Let's hope Pluto wasn't exposed along with his pluton, or these walkers might have a problem. [2019]

Washington, DC, USA

Welcome to the first day of spring in Washington. The cherry blossoms are early this year and are probably at their peak right about now. Too bad you won't be able to congregate around the Tidal Basin to bask in their abundance as you have done so many times in the past. [2011]

Amidon, North Dakota, USA

On this Sunday before Christmas, think of this scene as a metaphor for the season. It may not be the Sea of Galilee (nor a baptismal font), and the congregants may not be of human lineage. But, can't you hear them singing, in coded moos: "Yes, we'll gather by the river; gather with the saints at the river, that flows by the throne of God"? [2019]

Webster, Massachusetts, USA

That's the longest place name in the United States (but names in Wales can be longer). Welcome to Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg. The lake is right down that road. Better stock up at the plaza that bears its name before you venture too far from shore. Here is how the lake was marked over three decades ago. [2019]

Lake Havasu City, Arizona, USA

England or America? Answer: It's a little bit of England in America. London Bridge in Lake Havasu City used to cross the river Thames. In 1967, it was purchased and moved to the Arizona desert. Nearby was developed an English Village, which, of course, meant that a red telephone box had to be appropriated, too. [2019]

Lake Gatun, Panama

Gatun Lake is a reservoir that was formed by damming the Gatun River. Today, the lake is part of the Panama Canal. This container ship is passing from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean as pleasure boats take advantage of the lake as well. [2017]

Lake Gatun, Panama

Lake Gatun accounts for 21 miles of the Panama Canal, which is 51 miles long in total. So, that's 40 percent. In the early 20th century, it was formed by damming the Chagres River. The lake plays an important role in the passage of ships from ocean to ocean, and in the passage of younglings from boys to men. [2017]

Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA

What do you do the summer after graduating from high school? Get back to nature on Back Bay, which has been a National Wildlife Refuge since the 1930s when it was so isolated there was virtually no human footprint. Now, it's in Virginia's most populous city and a recreational mecca. If today is your birthday, here's to fond memories! [1995]

South Lake Tahoe, California, USA

What is the largest alpine lake in North America? Lake Tahoe, on the border between California and Nevada. In the winter, it becomes a Mecca for skiers flocking to nearby slopes. In the summer, it's perfect for boating. Don't fall overboard, though: Lake Tahoe is also the second deepest lake in the United States. [2006]

Celebration, Florida, USA

Forty-five years ago, Celebration wasn't even a gleam in the Disney Company's eye. On the other hand, forty-five years ago, there was a gleam in a certain groom's eye in the college town of Grantham. What a celebration it was! [2017]